Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 18, Issue 2 141-145, Copyright © 1999 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ovarian teratomas appearing as solid masses on ultrasonography
D. K. Lee, S. H. Kim, J. Y. Cho, S. J. Shin and K. M. Yeon
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.
The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and imaging
characteristics of ovarian teratomas that appear as solid masses on
ultrasonography and to compare the ultrasonographic imaging features of the
tumors with their pathologic findings. The ultrasonographic images of 202
ovarian teratomas were reviewed retrospectively. Solid-appearing masses
were selected from among them and were evaluated in terms of internal
echotexture, the presence or lack of peripheral hypoechogenicity, posterior
sonic attenuation, and tumoral calcification. Seventy-six (37.6%) masses of
202 belonged to the atypical solid-appearing masses on ultrasonography. Of
76 masses, 57 (75.0%) had peripheral hypoechogenicity; 38 masses had
well-defined thin hypoechoic rims, whereas 19 had poorly demarcated
peripheral hypoechogenicity. Posterior sonic attenuation was evident in 18
(23.7%) masses. The presence of peripheral hypoechogenicity, which is
suggestive of the fluid portion of the tumor, might be one of the
characteristic findings of solid-appearing ovarian teratomas on
ultrasonography.
